Improvement in clamps for sewing-machine needles



H. BARCLAY. Clamp for Sewing-Machine Needle.

No. 204,789. Pate nted June 11, 1878..

WHY

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY BARCLAY, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN CLAMPS FOR SEWING-MACHINE NEEDLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 204,789, dated June 11, 1878; application filed March 20, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY BARCLAY, of Elizabeth, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Clamps for Sewing-Machine Needles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification.

The improvement is applicable to any needle-bar or to other needle-carriers, whether they reciprocate in right lines or in an arc of a circle.

The object of the invention is to provide a more convenient means of clamping a sewingmachine needle than has hitherto been supplied. This I aecomplish by my improvement, and at the same time I clamp the needle securely.

Figure 1 in the accompanying drawing is a side View of a needle-bar to which my improvement is applied. Fig. 2 is a view of the side of the same opposite to that shown in Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are each a section made on the line 3 y in Fig. 1, but each shows the clamping device in a difi'erent position from that shown in the other.

A represents the needle-bar, and B represents the needle clamped therein according to my improvement. In the said needle-bar is formed a slot or perforation, G, for the reception of the needle. Through the said needlebar, and preferably at right angles with the said slot in the said bar, I pierce a hole, I), for the reception of the clamping-pin E. The said clamping-pin has formed therein a groove or recess, preferably, but not necessarily, so cut that its deepest part is on one side of the middle of the groove. The said clamping-pin has a projection, preferably in the form of a head, G, for the engagement of the end of a spring, H, riveted or otherwise attached to the side of said needle-bar. The said clampingpin has also preferably a small groove formed close to the projection or head G, for the engagement of the end of the spring H, by which means the said clamping-pin is prevented from ever dropping out when the needle is not in the needle-bar.

The form of the groove F is such that it leaves a bearing-surface of conical or wedgelike form, which, when the needle is placed in the slot or perforation O of the needle-bar and the spring H is left free to act, wedges or clamps the said needle in the said slot or perforation.

To take out or to put in a needle it is o. ly necessary to press on the head of the clamping-pin, which releases the needle, if there be a needle clamped in the needle-bar, or allows a needle to be inserted, if required.

I claim- The combination of the slotted or perforated needle-bar, the grooved clamping-pin, and the spring H, attached to the needle-bar and engaging the said clamping-pin, substantially as described, whereby the said clamping-pin is forced endwise for clamping the needle in the slot or perforation of the needle-bar and the groove of the clamping-pin, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

HENRY BARCLAY.

WVitnesses LEICESTER ALLEN, BENJAMIN W. HOFFMAN. 

